Alongside our Built Environment Inclusive partners, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Landscape Institute LI), the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), we issue this statement in response to recent events.

The racist and Islamophobic riots across England and Northern Ireland have been deeply troubling. As a group of professional membership bodies committed to inclusion, we wanted to acknowledge the impact this public disorder may be having on our members, especially those from Asian, Black and Minority Ethnic Communities, both personally and professionally. Whether that is as a result of being directly affected or painful memories this may have evoked.

Violence and unrest can leave us feeling vulnerable, isolated, anxious, and uncertain but during these moments there is strength in community, and we wanted to assure you that the Buit Environment community stands with you and will offer all the support that we can as we collectively try to manoeuvre through these difficulties together.

Those members affected may wish to make use of the services offered by CIOB Assist who have direct support available through Anxiety UK.

Discrimination of any kind should have no place in society, but recent events make clear that while there has been change, there remains much to be done to ensure that these incidents are truly things of the past.

The Built Environment Inclusive partnership remains committed to playing our part in creating that change by eradicating discrimination in the built environment and shaping a more inclusive sector.